Bishophopper(BH): Moves along Bishop-lines over another unit of either color to the square immediately beyond that unit. A capture may be made on arrival, but the hurdle is not affected.
Rookhopper(RH): Moves along Rook-lines over another unit of either color to the square immediately beyond that unit. A capture may be made on arrival, but the hurdle is not affected.
No.1301Michael McDowell & Brian Stephenson Great Britain original – 01.07.2018
It is a follow-up problem to one published
in the latest issue of The Problemist. Arguably it is a better problem, as
it uses only hoppers, whereas the other problem includes an unrelated
fairy piece.
Both problems raise an interesting question. Would the final position in
each be considered an ideal mate? In orthodox chess a piece may guard or
block a square, but in a problem containing hoppers a piece may guard or
block a square while also acting as a hurdle. Is it enough for a piece
to function solely as a hurdle? (Authors)
Arguably it is a better problem, as
it uses only hoppers, whereas the other problem includes an unrelated
fairy piece.
I agree that it is ideal mate. The removal of any single white unit would negate it, which surely must be the pedantic definition of “Ideal”.